Efforts afoot to revive tourism
The Himalayan Mail Jammu October 1
While every possible effort is being made by the UT administration to promote tourism sector which has taken the biggest hit due to Covid-19 pandemic, LG Manoj Sinha and Union minister for culture, tourism & development of North East region G Kishan Reddy today discussed growth and development of tourism sector in the Union
Territory (UT).
While tourism is the mainstay of economy in Kashmir, Jammu is known worldwide for its religious tourism as lakhs of people visit every year to the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas and other prominent religious places, including Shudh Mahadev and Shiv Khori.
According to officials, Reddy, who arrived in Srinagar as a part of the Government of India’s outreach programme, met Sinha at Raj Bhavan.
They discussed several issues, particularly on growth and development of tourism sector in the UT. The minister will also interact with Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI), tourism department officials and others.
Tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the valley suffered major jolt due to political situation followed by COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, tourists had to leave the valley following directions from the Centre when Article 370 and 35 A were abrogated and Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two Union Territories on August 5.
As tourism sector was making some recovery, lockdown was imposed in the entire country in March 2020 following outbreak of COVID-19. Though this year tourists were missed during Tulip season again due to COVID, guests have now started to arrive in the valley, where only those who are vaccinated are being allowed to visit tourist places and gardens.
The tourist department Kashmir has also organized road shows and other functions in different parts of the country to attract more tourists this season.